HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Bordentown continues its winning ways

BORDENTOWN TWP. — It’s like a whole new world for the long-dormant Bordenton High School football team.

The Scotties now have fans. The Scotties now have talent. And in the most important new development of all, the Scotties are now playing winning football.

All of this was again on display last night as Bordentown destroyed Ewing by the score of 39-17 in front of a large homecoming crowd.

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With the victory, Bordentown improved to 3-1 and is off to its best start since 1981. If it continues to play like this, it has a legitimate shot at its first playoff berth in ages.

Adding to last night’s enjoyment was the fact it at looked like the Scotties were going to be in a dogfight. Ewing (1-4) controlled the first quarter and led after 12 minutes by the score of 7-0 after star receiver Sha’vorn Cooper made a nice leaping catch on an 8-yard pass from Nigiem Williams in the end zone.

Although no one could have known it at the time, it was about the last thing Ewing did right all night until Bordentown cleared its bench in the fourth quarter.

The game turned in the second quarter when senior Jordan Kelso came through with two sensational punt returns to give the Scotties all kinds of field position.

The first was a 33-yard return to the Ewing 12 that led to a 1-yard sneak by quarterback Nick Bartolomei.

With the Scottie defense getting more dominant with each passing series, Kelso then struck again when he returned a punt 38 yards to to the Ewing 13. This time Bordentown scored on a 4-yard slant pass to Jaleel Tyson from Bartolomei, who was a very efficient 7 for 9 for 90 yards.

It was at this point where the Ewing defense really began to sag. As a result, the Scotties were able to score in the second quarter again when Bartolomei completed two straight passes and Kelso raced up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run.

Any thoughts Ewing might regroup in the second half were quickly dashed after Bordentown scored again early in the third quarter. A muffed punt sent up this scoring opportunity and Jahmire VanKline took full advantage with a 32-yard touchdown run.

The Scotties added a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter when Brian Daloisio caught a 20-yard pass from Bartolomei and Tommmy Walters (20 carries, 71 yards) reached the end zone on a 5-yard run.

Other than in the first quarter, the only thing that stopped Bordentown all game was the referees, who socked the Scotties with 12 penalties for 95 yards.